lord, I cannot yet see what your affairs have to do with
us. But if it will give you any pleasure that we should believe
these remarkable statements--"

"I have assured you that it will."

"Then perhaps you will produce some proof of them in black and
white."

The Earl drew a folded paper from his breast and spread it upon the
table before them. It was an affectionate letter of pardon, dated a
month back from the Court of Saint Germains, written throughout and
signed by the hand of King James himself.

"Thank you, my lord. When his Majesty writes thus, it is not for his
subjects to bear rancour. Will you kindly state your immediate
business?"

"It concerns the young man Tristram Salt. You desire that he should
be restored to you?"

"My lord," said Captain Barker, "that young man is more to me than
many sons."

"You are indignant at the recollection of this afternoon?"

"What has that to do with it?"

"Much. But let me continue. Your adopted son, Captain Barker,
is at this moment lying in the hold of his Majesty's frigate the
_Good Intent_. He is in irons."

"In irons!"

"Yes, sir. He has undoubtedly imbibed your opinions with regard to
the Dutch, for he began his military career by blacking the eyes of a
gentleman of that nation, who, as ill-luck will have it, is his
superior officer."

"The devil!"

"To-morrow morning he will receive six dozen lashes--perhaps more.
I take the most cheerful view in order to spare your feelings; but
most decidedly it will be six dozen, unless--"

"Unless--what?"

"Unless I remit the sentence. The young man, you understand, was
placed under my care."

"My lord, you will pardon him?"

"With pleasure. Nay, I will restore him to you this very night--"

Captain Barker leapt up from his seat in a transport of gratitude,
and would have caught the Earl's hand had not his friend dragged him
back by the coat-tails.

"--On conditions," his lordship concluded.

"Name them."

"In a moment. We are agreed, I believe, that to blacken a Dutchman's
eyes is no great sin. There are too many Dutchmen around his
Majesty--as you, sirs, had the courage to inform his Majesty this
afternoon."

"Did we say that?"

"I understood you to hint it, at any rate. I assure you that I am
never so much disposed to regret my change of allegiance on that
November night at Salisbury as when I look around and see how little
my own countrymen have profited by that action."

"A